Safe, small beach-town?

Sam Salmon says on Dec 27, 2004, 17:40:

"Are Barranquilla or Cartagen "Are Barranquilla or Cartagena small enough to possibly qualify?"
You have to start paying more attention-CTG & BRQ are both cities in every sense of the word.
There are all kinds of places that fit your needs but the one I know best has only intermittent Internet access.
No info on San Andres.
In any case you need to go to Colombia and travel the country for a few weeks minimum.
' a la orden!'

' a la orden!'

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justino says on Dec 27, 2004, 17:57:

Sam - thanks for the reply So are Cartagena and Barranquilla typical concrete jungles - teeming with traffic, pollution, honking horns, people in a hurry? I understand that they are smaller cities than Medellin or Bogota, and know they are near the beach - so I was hoping they were less into the hustle and bustle. And I wonder, when you go to the beach is it actually relaxing or do you have to watch your back all the time to avoid getting mugged. Even here in Spain you have to keep much more of a look out than say, Florida (minus South Beach), because of all the gypsy and Morroccan thugs that prey on tourists.

Which is this place that you know best with intermittent internet access? I could double-check with internet providers there to see if getting access in an apartment is an option. Also - I may want to take a vacation from programming for a while and say screw the whole internet idea. A safe, beautiful place surrounded by good people would make me happy.

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Brian858 says on Dec 27, 2004, 18:33:

El Rodadero / Santa Marta You should try El Rodadero / Santa Marta. Here is a link to some photos: http://public.fotki.com/nacira/colombia_82004/el_rodaderoaquarium/
Enjoy!

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Gator says on Dec 27, 2004, 19:24:

I Would Also Suggest.. as did Brian858, you consider the Santa Marta area. This is where we (make that the wife) have picked out. Small enough to be comfortable but large enough to provide aminities(sp) like health care, shopping and fairly good transportation, both internally and externally.

"Credidi pretio parvo emere et magno vendere tibi in animo fuisse!" .

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litost says on Dec 27, 2004, 20:19:

Taganga!!!

that´s the place for you, I am sure. I will post pics of my trip there soon.

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kernow62 says on Dec 27, 2004, 20:27:

Cartagena beaches aren't very pretty and you will be pestered by vendors constantly. It is quite laid back compared to Bogotá, it is a bit like a beach town in Florida.

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utopiacowboy says on Dec 27, 2004, 22:00:

I hate to be the bearer of bad news but you're just going to have to go to Colombia and check it out yourself. What do your friends in Medellin recommend? You could always check out Los Cedros - try not to run over any of the free-roaming hogs.

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.

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Atrevido says on Dec 28, 2004, 04:25:

Isla Providencia would fit the bill except it lacks the tropical jungle and I believe new residency is highly restricted.

If you really want to get away head to El Valle in Choco fourty minutes from the small airport in Bahia Solano. Absolutely nothing but a village, beach and jungle and just a short launch ride from Parque Utria. An army base in Bahia Solano provides protection. There's a photo of the beech in my image gallery.

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elmodefoque says on Dec 28, 2004, 05:17:

My man, if you want a nice quiet resort town by the sea, with old buildings and tiny little European cars running all over the place is best to do is stay in Seville. Barranquilla has double the population of Seville with more modern buildings and a lot more cars and is noisy as hell. I suggest, maybe Santa Marta, but if you’re looking to really get away, try Taganga.

I'll get there, when I get there!

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Miguel says on Dec 28, 2004, 05:37:

The Coast Cartagena is pretty place, indeed, but those street vendors are overwhelming at first. San Andres is pretty, too, but at times it doesn't feel like Colombia to me. Elmo is right about Barranquilla being busy and noisy, although Puerto Colombia is ok and not too far away. Santa Marta, with the ocean and the mountains along with it's laid back feel is a nice part of Colombia.

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justino says on Jan 3, 2005, 12:33:

Multiple replies Brian and Gator: Santa Marta looks and sounds beautiful. Thanks for the tip. I'll take a trip there while based in Medellin to check it out.

Litost: google search on "Taganga" turned up a nasty review here http://www.bootsnall.com/articles/04-01/time-off-in-taganga-part-i-taganga-colombia.html, but it was from a Brit who seemed to be looking for things to bitch about so as to produce entertaining travel writing. Others sure like it though http://www.virtualtourist.com/m/2e0eb/17e258/. Thanks for the tip.

Utopia: you're right, I gotta go check it out myself. I'll never be satisfied with anybody else's answer, but at least I got a coupla good pointers here. My friends in Medellin just go to their finca on the weekends and that clears their heads. They want me to give Medellin itself a try so they haven't recommended other places yet.

Atrevido: la isla de Providencia looks amazing. I'll definitely consider checking it out. Thanks. El Valle sounds a bit too remote for me.

Elmo: Yeah, Seville lacks the beach and I'm sick of old buildings. I miss salsa and merengue. Spaniards don't dance for shit except for Sevillanas (a flamenco styled dance), though they do have really good rhythm for clapping. Everybody smokes. Personal hygiene isn't so good. It's cold in the winter. I'm just ready for a change. But nada de resort towns. I don't want modefoquing tourists. I want Colombia (but just the good parts).

Miguel: thanks for the reinforcement of others' comments. Was helpful.

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utopiacowboy says on Jan 3, 2005, 15:38:

A small safe little town to fit your requirements would be Covenas. It's a lot like Tolu but smaller and much less crowded than Tolu. Of course there's absoultely nothing to do there except the beach.

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.

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